Chris Smith
New member
PJ I received a newsletter today from Lowrance in Durban and they are advertising underwater transom lights. They look great. Hope PE is still as good as it always was. I grew up on the Swartkops River at Redhouse.
Underwater Transom LED lights?
- Thread starter P.J.
- Start date
fstf roller
Senior Member
I believe Lowrance are working with Ocean LED
What would the legal possition be with these lights when anchored/drifting at night?
Also NOT on sides as this would create problems when under way (with your running lights)
A huge benefit if you need to clear anything from your props
If mounted under the waterline, do you geg them shining down (and not up?)
Also NOT on sides as this would create problems when under way (with your running lights)
A huge benefit if you need to clear anything from your props
If mounted under the waterline, do you geg them shining down (and not up?)
fstf roller
Senior Member
Thika, some good questions there, I am not sure about any legality that prevents it, I think the reason being that no one really has them yet as they are just starting to surface in SA now from what I know.
Like i mentioned my boat only gets used on Gamtoos and I am yet to see a boat there with them (the underwater lights), so it will be interesting to see if the reaction is good or bad as I do 90% of my fishing at night.
I just think the price for these lights are not suitable for the SA market, or at least the big brand models like Ocean LED, Lumitec, Lumishore etc in my opinion.
Regarding the side lights, Ocean LED have an HD through hull mounted light available at something crazy like $3000 per light, these are flush mounted into the hull to almost be a part of the boat, I believe there are the only lights that can be mounted on the side or below the boat. All other lights or from what I know are not advised to be mounted on the side.
I guess there are multiple benefits mounting them at the back for lots of reasons, like I also mentioned I am yet to switch mine one, never mind fit them but by next weekend I will have that done and will report back.
Just on that, different colors penetrate better in different types of water, blue I heard is best for fishing and green shows the best in murky water for example.
For mounting options below the waterline, you can pretty much only rig them to shine straight out, unless you have a surface that caters for mounting them at an angle, if you look at most of the pictures on line, you will see most of the people fit 2 - 4 lights depending on the boat size, at the back of the transom facing or shining backwards and you mount them about 2 inches below the water line.
I am no expert in this, this is just what I have gathered so far.
Like i mentioned my boat only gets used on Gamtoos and I am yet to see a boat there with them (the underwater lights), so it will be interesting to see if the reaction is good or bad as I do 90% of my fishing at night.
I just think the price for these lights are not suitable for the SA market, or at least the big brand models like Ocean LED, Lumitec, Lumishore etc in my opinion.
Regarding the side lights, Ocean LED have an HD through hull mounted light available at something crazy like $3000 per light, these are flush mounted into the hull to almost be a part of the boat, I believe there are the only lights that can be mounted on the side or below the boat. All other lights or from what I know are not advised to be mounted on the side.
I guess there are multiple benefits mounting them at the back for lots of reasons, like I also mentioned I am yet to switch mine one, never mind fit them but by next weekend I will have that done and will report back.
Just on that, different colors penetrate better in different types of water, blue I heard is best for fishing and green shows the best in murky water for example.
For mounting options below the waterline, you can pretty much only rig them to shine straight out, unless you have a surface that caters for mounting them at an angle, if you look at most of the pictures on line, you will see most of the people fit 2 - 4 lights depending on the boat size, at the back of the transom facing or shining backwards and you mount them about 2 inches below the water line.
I am no expert in this, this is just what I have gathered so far.
Thanks fstf,
I was more referring to night lights and shapes:
At anchor you may only display one 360 deg white light (or two 180 deg white lights)
To avoid collisions at night red, green and white lights are read together, so LED strips above the waterline would be a no no I think
The underwater lights really look good and is practical as well...if you fish in estuaries you can now see if you are churning up the bottom in shallow areas. Also to untangle lines from the props and to scoop mullet in the current
I am going to investigate glueing underwater strips at the transom
I was more referring to night lights and shapes:
At anchor you may only display one 360 deg white light (or two 180 deg white lights)
To avoid collisions at night red, green and white lights are read together, so LED strips above the waterline would be a no no I think
The underwater lights really look good and is practical as well...if you fish in estuaries you can now see if you are churning up the bottom in shallow areas. Also to untangle lines from the props and to scoop mullet in the current
I am going to investigate glueing underwater strips at the transom
benniejordaan
Sealiner
For the most parts they are "cool". If drift fishing at night, they will bring bait fish in. The old commercials caught couta and Dorado like this off Durban at night. Sitting on pic, with a powerful light under water, it would attract bay squid. Catch them, pin them and load dorado!
benniejordaan
Sealiner
Just to add, lights above water can be crap. Your eyes battle to adjust to the darkness of night. You see the light, turn around and you're blind again.
fstf roller
Senior Member
Thika, haha sorry man I was referring to underwater lights!
I agree with the strip lights but also not to a certain extent, yes they are more than what needs to be displayed but from my experience from what I have seen, it's not like these lights have been in my face and blinded or disoriented me to the point where is was a negative consideration, just my opinion.
Some boats that i have seen below:
I like to do most of my fishing up down river where the water is more murky so it will be interesting to see what the effects of the lights are there compared to the mouth area where it is a lot more clear.
Regarding your underwater strip lights, I am sure it will work i just dont know how far the will penetrate in the water, I heard in clearish water the coastal lights penetrate up 10 feet aft or away from the transom, and a meter to the front, dont ask me how. They also say picture does the intensity true justice.
I agree with the strip lights but also not to a certain extent, yes they are more than what needs to be displayed but from my experience from what I have seen, it's not like these lights have been in my face and blinded or disoriented me to the point where is was a negative consideration, just my opinion.
Some boats that i have seen below:
I like to do most of my fishing up down river where the water is more murky so it will be interesting to see what the effects of the lights are there compared to the mouth area where it is a lot more clear.
Regarding your underwater strip lights, I am sure it will work i just dont know how far the will penetrate in the water, I heard in clearish water the coastal lights penetrate up 10 feet aft or away from the transom, and a meter to the front, dont ask me how. They also say picture does the intensity true justice.
fstf roller
Senior Member
Sitting on the river as I post this, thought i would give some feed back.
Lights look amazing, you get blinded when you switch them on outside the water as thet are very bright.
They give such good lighting in the water that your rod tips are cleary visible as well, i have used them in murky water as well and the water hardly affects the colour compared to up river where the water is blueish.
They look the best while driving at night as the lights are then outside the watet rather than in the water.
The installation was very very simple.
Lights look amazing, you get blinded when you switch them on outside the water as thet are very bright.
They give such good lighting in the water that your rod tips are cleary visible as well, i have used them in murky water as well and the water hardly affects the colour compared to up river where the water is blueish.
They look the best while driving at night as the lights are then outside the watet rather than in the water.
The installation was very very simple.
fstf roller
Senior Member
Sitting on the river as I post this, thought i would give some feed back.
Lights look amazing, you get blinded when you switch them on outside the water as thet are very bright.
They give such good lighting in the water that your rod tips are cleary visible as well, i have used them in murky water as well and the water hardly affects the colour compared to up river where the water is blueish.
They look the best while driving at night as the lights are then outside the watet rather than in the water.
The installation was very very simple.
Lights look amazing, you get blinded when you switch them on outside the water as thet are very bright.
They give such good lighting in the water that your rod tips are cleary visible as well, i have used them in murky water as well and the water hardly affects the colour compared to up river where the water is blueish.
They look the best while driving at night as the lights are then outside the watet rather than in the water.
The installation was very very simple.
smiley6996
Sealiner
How it boss if you still looking give me a pm shore I can help I am in sunridge park
RickMoss33
New member
HI
I know Lowrance SA offers Amphibian Ocean LED lights that really is amazing! It has anti fouling glass on and it last up to 40 000 hours! It attracts bait fish!! The Works! Not expensive at all and it is good quality!
Ricky
I know Lowrance SA offers Amphibian Ocean LED lights that really is amazing! It has anti fouling glass on and it last up to 40 000 hours! It attracts bait fish!! The Works! Not expensive at all and it is good quality!
Ricky